Silhouette Studio Tutorial: Adding Custom Media Settings

Note: This post was originally written in July 2012 for adding custom media settings in Silhouette Studio. The screen shots still apply to the Legacy version 2 of Silhouette Studio, and have changed only slightly for version 3. The process is still about the same in v3.

ATTENTION Silhouette Studio v4 users: Please see this updated video for adding new materials in the Send Panel.

Original post:

I love the Silhouette Studio software and the wonderful products and support by Silhouette America, but there were some significant changes in their recent update to Studio 2.5.8.  The most significant change from 2.5.0 is a new list of media for cutting.  I’m excited about the new materials released with CHA last week, but a lot of frequently-used settings disappeared along with the section describing and/or giving tips for cutting the different media types.

The former list was still on my laptop, so I made a full list to share of the cut settings from 2.5.0.  It includes the descriptions that used to be included in the Cut Settings Window. I’m providing the old list to you (prior to July 2012) in case you’re wondering what you used to cut certain papers successfully on if you don’t find what you need on the new list.

(Click here to download PDF file.)

 

I was especially sad to lose my heavy and medium smooth cardstock settings, along with the sketch pen and vinyl settings that worked fine the way they used to be.  But not to worry…you can use the list I’m providing to add the ones you want back to your current Studio software (and custom settings don’t usually disappear with subsequent updates).

 

Here’s how:
1- In your Cut Settings Window , click on the plus (+) symbol.
2- A box will pop up in the Custom Media section where you can name your paper or vinyl that you want to save settings for.
3- Type in a name, then adjust your Speed, Thickness, and Blade setting as necessary.
4- Don’t forget to choose the options you want like a Cutting Mat or Double Cut, depending on the material.
5- When you’re ready to save it, click the plus (+) symbol again and start adding the next type.  If you’re done, just click the minus (-) symbol to drop that newest addition.
6- You can delete any settings you don’t want by clicking the minus (-) symbol, but be careful because it doesn’t give you any warning.  I won’t delete any of the new settings provided by Silhouette just in case they do prove to be better.

And here’s a short video tutorial with the same information:

A few things to note:
1- I don’t suggest inputting the entire old list, just the ones that worked for you before and used frequently.  You may just want to print the list and keep it handy.
2- You can always adjust the individual settings (speed, thickness, etc.) on an as-needed basis and do not need to add a custom media for everything you cut. Bear in mind that the changes you make will stick to the existing settings.
3- Original Silhouette or Craft Robo users (the machine model with a knob for feeding material instead of buttons for auto loading) should continue to cut everything at a speed of 3 or lower to avoid lengthy pauses (you know that flashing blue light when it’s not finished cutting but isn’t moving).
4- Silhouette believes the new settings are better, so it should be helpful to those who always had to turn their blades or thickness up more than the defaults.

(Note 6/20/2015: I happily use most of the Silhouette default cut settings these days, with only a few exceptions.)



16 thoughts on “Silhouette Studio Tutorial: Adding Custom Media Settings”

  • Kelly thanks for taking the time to do this. I like some of the new changes but wish they would have kept quite a few of the others. I will use your tutorial for sure to add back the ones I used frequently. Thanks again!

  • Thanks for this information – I was scouring the web looking for posts about this very thing – thought I was losing my mind (not about this anymore)! The download was invaluable!

  • I am so glad I found this. I could not figure out why my settings were not staying. I was not clicking the + the second time. Thank you so much sweetheart for posting this. I appreciate it.

  • thankyou so much for the list and how to use the custom media. i havent had my silhouette long and i'm loving it, i use the sketch pen frequently. the new sketch pen feature is a little too heavy, the setting you put on the list are much better. xxx

  • kELLY, I HAD A PROBLEM THE PROGRAM SAID THAT MY COMPUTER WAS OUT OF DATE A NEW WINDOW POPPED UP SAYING I NEEDED TO DOWNLOAD THIS OTHER PROGRAM. I DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DOWNLOADING A FILE THAT MY VIRUS SOFTWARE NIXED, IS THERE ANY OTHER TO GET THE INFORMATION??? tHANK YOU

    • That sounds like adware from the download site. Sorry about that; I have no control over that. I can send this document to you via email if you send a request through my contact form (see the About Me tab towards the top of the site).

      Somehow I missed this comment when you posted it.

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